Test Stakes marred by catastrophic injury to Maple Leaf Mel at...
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 98th running of the Test Stakes, the fourth of five co-features on the Saratoga Whitney Day program, was marred when the previously undefeated Maple Leaf Mel suffered a catastrophic injury as she appeared to stumble in the shadow of the finish line, throwing rider Joel Rosario to the ground. Rosario was attended to by first aid personnel and then walked away from the scene and entered an ambulance under his own power. Maple Leaf Mel, owned by retired Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, was euthanized on the track.
The 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief went into the race with a perfect record of five wins from five starts, two of which came last year at the Spa. All five saw her and Rosario take the lead right out of the starting gate and never look back.
She and her rider followed the same plan in the $500,000, Grade I Test Stakes at seven furlongs. After breaking from the number 7 stall in the starting gate, the filly, who is named for her Canadian trainer Melanie Giddings, opened a one-length lead after the first quarter mile and improved upon it from there.
Rosario geared her down about 70 yards from the finish line when it seemed the win was assured. She appeared to take a bad step very close to the line and came up favoring her right front leg. She then made one unsuccessful attempt to rise before a decision was made to euthanize.
After Pretty Mischief’s win, jockey Tyler Gaffalione said, “To be honest, I’m a bit lost for words right now. I feel so bad for the connections of Mel. It’s hard to enjoy this one thinking about that. My condolences go out to their team. Hopefully they’re able to get through this and God bless them.”
The official results were Pretty Mischief, first, Clearly Unhinged, second, and Munny’s Gold,...